For many Nigerian farmers and rural communities, the growing impact of climate change has resulted in declining yields, water shortages and increasing uncertainty about livelihoods, positioning the Climate-Smart Agronomy Programme (CSAP) as a timely intervention aimed at restoring hope and stability.
Nigeria is at a pivotal moment where climate pressure, food security, water scarcity and economic recovery must be addressed collectively, as stakeholders advance the Climate-Smart Agronomy Programme (CSAP) as a unified and scalable national response, a vision strongly championed by Dr Abiola Bashorun.
According to Dr Abiola Bashorun, the programme coordinator, the Climate-Smart Agronomy Programme for Nigeria provides an integrated framework for green growth, ocean prosperity and national resilience, connecting land, water, energy and livelihoods into one cohesive development model. She said the initiative is designed to transform vulnerability into opportunity across rural and coastal communities.
Dr Abiola Bashorun explained that the programme prioritises transitioning from a brown to a green economy by restoring degraded and abandoned lands into productive hubs, scaling climate-smart agriculture for higher yields with lower emissions, and deploying renewable energy, especially solar-powered irrigation and processing. She noted that this approach effectively turns environmental degradation into economic opportunity.
She emphasised that CSAP places strong emphasis on protecting farmlands and forests as part of Nigeria’s carbon economy. She said the programme promotes forest conservation and expansion for carbon sequestration, integrates agroforestry systems, and enables farmers to access carbon credit markets as new income streams while positioning rural communities as climate solution providers.
On water and ocean resources, Dr Abiola Bashorun noted that the initiative advances the blue economy and water security by treating water as the bridge between land and ocean systems.
She explained that it incorporates reverse osmosis desalination to convert ocean water into potable water, supports aquaculture and coastal livelihoods, and strengthens integrated water resource management across agriculture and industry.
Dr Abiola Bashorun added that the programme introduces smart water management systems, including drip and precision irrigation, solar-powered water infrastructure, and water harvesting and storage systems. She said these measures are aimed at ensuring efficient water use and year-round productivity, particularly in drought-prone regions.
Addressing land degradation, Dr Abiola Bashorun stated that CSAP promotes planting nutrient-rich, drought-resistant grasses, establishing sustainable fodder systems, and rehabilitating degraded land into productive ecosystems. She noted that this would reduce desertification while supporting agriculture and livestock development in semi-arid regions.
Dr Abiola Bashorun further highlighted that the initiative focuses on transforming the livestock economy through structured ranching systems, managed grazing reserves, integrated crop-livestock farming models, and investments in fodder production and water access.
She said the approach is expected to minimise farmer-herder conflicts, boost productivity and rural stability, while also driving economic recovery through job creation, new value chains and increased investment across agriculture, energy and water sectors.
